A proposal to require opposing viewpoints for political library materials was narrowed after questions over how to determine whether books lean left or right.
Artist Jan Harvey showcases historic Redlands photographs and etchings in a featured exhibit at the Redlands Art Association through Sept. 4.
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A proposal to require opposing viewpoints for political library materials was narrowed after questions over how to determine whether books lean left or right.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Redlands Unified School District trustees discussed Tuesday whether school libraries should be required to provide opposing viewpoints on political or controversial reading materials.
The discussion centered on proposed changes to Board Policy 6144, which governs controversial issues in district classrooms.
The board ultimately directed staff to return with a narrower proposal focused on books about U.S. presidents.
Board member Candy Olson brought forward the proposal, arguing that the district's existing requirement that controversial topics be presented in a balanced manner during classroom lessons should also apply to library collections.
Olson said that since joining the board, she has reviewed each batch of books brought forward for district libraries and believes politically oriented selections frequently favor progressive viewpoints.
As an example, Olson said one elementary school has several books about former President Barack Obama and his family but no comparable books about Republican presidents or conservative political figures.
“I have no problem with the Obama books. I think they need to be there, but I also think we need a balance,” Olson said.
Olson did not identify the elementary school, and the board discussion did not include an independent analysis of the political viewpoints represented in district library collections.
Board member Jeannette Wilson also supported expanding the policy to library books, saying the district should provide students with a balance of viewpoints.
Other trustees questioned how the district would determine whether a book is political or controversial and what would constitute an opposing viewpoint.
Board President Michele Rendler said she supported the general goal of providing students with diverse perspectives but questioned how librarians and principals could practically implement the proposed requirement.
“I just don't see the feasibility of how this is going to work,” Rendler said. “Who's going to say what political point of view this is and find the one that is different or find two that are different?”
Board member Melissa Ayala-Quintero questioned whether books about political figures should automatically be considered political. She noted that books about Obama could be included because he was president and the nation's first Black president, rather than because of his political affiliation.
Ayala-Quintero also questioned how an opposing-viewpoint requirement could apply to historical subjects and political movements.
“We could talk about slavery. Does that mean we then need to provide something on the KKK?” she said. “Are we providing something on the KKK that is in support of it or opposing it?”
Superintendent Juan Cabral also questioned how district employees could objectively classify books by political viewpoint.
Cabral said the district could relatively easily identify books explicitly about the Republican and Democratic parties, but determining whether an individual book, public figure or subject is left- or right-leaning would be more subjective.
“I just don't think that it's an enforceable policy with respect to that piece because there's too much question on where would one lie versus another,” he said.
Cabral also distinguished the proposal from the district's existing requirement that teachers provide balanced discussions of controversial issues, saying classroom discussions occur within a curriculum while students often select library books independently.
Olson maintained that the district could apply the same judgment it already uses for controversial classroom topics, saying the process would not be an “exacting science.”
During public comment, Redlands parent Catherine Appleby questioned how the district would define a “balanced” collection and how such a requirement could affect library budgets, shelf space and librarians’ ability to respond to student interests.
“I would like a definition of balanced,” Appleby said. “And who decides what is and what is not controversial?”
Community member Greg Britton supported the proposal, arguing that a balance requirement would establish a standard for the district.
“If they are balanced, well, then we have a standard,” Britton said. “And if they deviate from that standard, as Candy said earlier, there's a standard then to hold them to.”
By the end of the discussion, the board directed staff to return with narrower language addressing balance in books about current and former U.S. presidents.
No policy change was approved Tuesday.
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